Split lock replacer



Patented June 27, 1933 JOSEPH SUNNEN, OF KIRKWOOD, MISSOURI SPLIT LOCK REPLACER :Application led August 20, 1932. Serial'No. 629,661.

. My invention has relation to improvements in special tools usedby automobile mechanics in working on internal combustion engines,

V this particular tool being known as a splitA lock replacer.

Itis a matter of common knowledge in the automotive industry that many internal combustion' engines have the valve spring held in place on the valve stem by means of small w split locks, either of cylindrical or conical shape. The valve spring retaining washer or seat islformed with a suitable recess in which the split lock is disposed whereby the entire assembly of spring, spring washer,

i5 stem and lock are securely held together.

The split lock elements are extremely small and awkward to handle and special tools known as split lock replacers are provided for handling them. However, many of the split lock replacers now on the market are bulky and awkward to handle and others hold the split lock elements but feebly so that a slight knock or jar on the tool while attempting to replace the split lock will dislodge these elements.

A further drawback in the use of split lock replacers as now made is the difficulty of disengaging them from beneath the spring seat after the same has been let down over the split lock.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a split lock replacer in which all of the disadvantages above enumerated are eliminated. My improved split lock replacer is easily handled and conveniently loaded,

, that is the split lock elements may be easily positioned in the jaws of the tool, and when so positioned they are securely held and cannot become accidentally displaced. vA

further advantage is that all types of split Alocks now in use in internal combustion eni l gines may be handled with equal facility by my improved tool. Furthermore, after the split lock elements have been disposed on the valve stem by my improved replacer and the valve spring let down so that the spring seat engages a split lock, the tool may be easily removed and in many cases will become automatically disengaged from the valve stem.A A further object of the invention is to securey the above advantages in a tool of comparaf.` Itively simple and durablevrconstruction.

g The above objects, as well as the advantages inherent 1n the invention and not particularly pointed out` above, will be better apparent 5 from a detailed description of my improved tool in connection' with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure lis a top plan of my improved split lock replacer with theparts in repose; Fig.

2 is abottom plan of the replacer with the. parts in repose; Fig. 3 is a top plan ofthe vreplacer (with the handle broken away) with the parts shown in position for loading, that 1s receiving the split lock elements; Fig. 4 is a combined side elevation and vertical lonl gitudinal section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an end view of the replacer looking toward the jaws when the same are holding the split lock elements preparatory to inserting them in thevalve stem; Fig. 6 1s a vertical longitudinal section through the replacer shown applied tov a valve stem with the parts of the tool in their respective p ositlons just after having placed the split-lock elementsl on the stem; Fig. 7 isa side elevation of the replacer with the. parts shown in `force the replacer jaws out of engagement with the splitvlock elements; Figs. 8 and 9 aretop plan and end elevation of a split lock replacer in which the jaws are slightly j differently shaped.

Referring to the drawing, F represents the framer'lof my improved tool comprising va U-shaped stamping, one end of which is shaped so as to serve asfthe handle H and the other end being somewhat expanded and bi-l furcated to provide lingers 1, 1. The fingers are angle-shaped in cross section, each of which (looking at them from the end) comprises a vertical component a and an inclined component b extending upwardly therefrom' at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. A pair of lugs 2, 2 extend inwardly from thevsides 3,` 3 of the frame F and meet to form a rib across the frame at the base of vthe fingers 1, 1. A rectangular opening 0 is formed in the top of the frame F adjacent to the lugs 2, 2 and an abutment block 4 formed on the forward end of a bar is operable through the opening 0, the bar 5 being lodged between the sides 3, 3 of the frame F and terminating at its rear end in a finger piece 5. The bar 5 is capable of oscillating between pins 6 and 7 secured in the sides 3, 3 of the frame and spaced as shown. As the bar 5 is rocked on the pin 6 as a fulcrum the block 4 is moved upwardly through the opening o so that its forward bevelled edge 4 is above the upper surface of the rib formed by the lugs 2, 2. By pushing forward on the finger piece 5 the block 4 may be slid forwardly above and between the fingers 1, 1. A pair of spring arms 8, 8 are secured against the outer surfaces of the side members 3, 3 by means of the pin 7 and washers 9, 9, each of said spring arms terminating at its forward end in a jaw formed by bending the enlarged extremity 10 of the spring arm 8 inwardly at an angle of approximately 45 degrees, as shown in Fig. 5. A channed 10 is formed in the extremity 10 of the arm 8 and rounded points 11, 11 forming the base of the channel in effect constitute the jaw, as it is these points that engage the element L of the split loclr (Fig. 3) and hold the same in contact with the abutment block 4 preparatory to inserting the split lock on the valve stem S. The spring arms 8, 8 are pivotally mounted on the pin 7 and are held in the position (shown in Fig. 6) with the jaws 11 elevated by means of a spring 12, pin 13 and washer 14. The washer 14 is forced downwardly on the short arms of the spring lever 8 by means of the spring 12, as shown in said figure. In order to rock the arms 8 downwardly at their jaw ends the tension on the spring 12 must be overcome. The forward ends of the spring arms 8, 8 are maintained in horizontal alinement by lugs 15, 15 bent inwardly from the sides 3, 3 of the handle frame between which lugs and the washer 14 the extremity of lever arms 8, 8 are confined.

A lever 16 is pivotally mounted on the top of the frame F slightly forward of the pin 7, said lever being osoillatable about a stud 17 and supported in spaced relation from the frame by a washer 18. A nut 19 holds the lever in place on the stud 17. The forward end 16 of the lever dips downwardly so as to come between the spring arms 8, 8 which are adapted to be engaged by nebs 20, 20 formed on the extremity of the lever 16. The end of the lever 16 adjacent to the handle H terminates in a cross piece 21 having downwardly extending lobes 22, 22 on its ends which may be engaged by the thumb or finger of the operator to oscillate the lever 16 in either direction and force either spring arm 8 outwardly for the purposeof opening the jaw formed by the channel 10 (Fig. 3).

The operation of my improved tool is simple. The operator grasps the handle H and places the thumb on the finger piece 5 of bar 5 so as to raise the abutment block 4 and force the same forwardly between the jaws of spring lev-ers 8, 8, as shown in Fig. 3. He then oscillates the lever 16 in one direction to open one of the jaws of the lever 8 to pere mit the insertion of a split lock element L and then oscillates the lever 16 in the opposite direction to permit the insertion of the other split lock L. It will Vbe observ-ed that these split lock elements L rest on the fingers 1, l and are clamped between the jaws of spring arms 8, 8 and the abutment block 4. The split lock elements may now be inserted on the valve stem by merely placing the curved depression c of the abutment block 4 against the valve stem and pushing forwardly on the tool. The pressure against the valve stem forces the abutment bloclr rearwardly, allowing the split lock elements to come together under the pressure of the jaws of spring arms 8, 8 and embrace the valve stein (Fig. 6). When the abutment block 4 has been withdrawn beyond the split lock ele ments its bevelled edges c, e will ride on the bevelled edges e', e of the enlargement 10 of the spring arms which force the abutment block into the openin(r 0 of the frame where-v upon it will drop downwardly (as shown in D Fig. 6) out of the way.V The operator may now allow the valve spring A and seat WV to come down with the upper aw J of the valve lifter so that the split look elements L, L

will enter the depression or socket Din the 'i spring seat W. As the upper jaw. J of the valve lifter vmoves downwardly it will encounter the enlarged extremities 10, 10 of the spring arms 8, 8 and force them downwardly with it (Figs. 5 and 7) until the ends 10, 10 of the arms lie flat against the inclined components b, b of the fingers 1, 1. 1t is now a comparatively simple matter to extract the tool from the valve stem. In fact in many instances it will be automatically dislodged by the jaw J of the valve lifter.

In Figs. 8 and 9 l show the jaws, 25, 25, modified in shape'so that they have horizontal jaw components 26, 26, for engaging the locky elements, L, L, instead of the inclined jaw components 10, 10, of the main form. The fingers 27, 27, terminating the sides 3, 3 of the frame also have horizontal components 28, 28,

so that when the lock elements, L, L, are

gripped between the jaws 26, 26 and the abutment block 4, they will rest solidly on the components 28, 28 of the fingers 27, 27. The structure of the modification shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is slightly preferable when the tool is used for replacing certain kinds of split locks, although the main form as shown in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, is more universally adapted to all types of split locks.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A valve tool comprising a frame havingY f gether,

spaced above the side members at one end ofthe frame, spring means for urging said jaws toand an abutment member disposed between said side members below th-e plane ofk the jaws and movable to a position bejaws together, and an abutment member dis-y posed out of the horizontal planerof the jaws and movable into the plane of the jaws and between the jaws. l f

3. A valve tool comprising a lframe having spaced side members, afpair of jawsmounted on said frame and disposed in opposition above the side members at one end of the frame, said jaws being movable downwardly toward said side members, spring means for urging said jaws together, and an abutment member carried by the frame and disposed out of the horizontal plane of the jaws and member and disposed in opposition at one end movable to a position between said jaws. Y

4. A valve tool comprising a handleimember, a pair of jaws mounted on the handle member and disposed in opposition at one end thereof, spring means for urgingfsaid jaws together, means for separating said jaws, and an abutment member disposedout of the horizontal plane of the jaws and movable to a position between the jaws. v

5. A valveV tool comprising a handle member, a pair of jaws mounted on thehandle member and disposed in opposition at one end thereof, spring means for urging said jaws together, a lever mounted on the handle member and operable on the jaws to open the same,

`and an abutment member disposed out ofthe y side members, a pairof aws mounted on said frame and disposed m opposition* planeof the jaws'and movable to a position between the jaws.

' 6. A valve tool Comprising a frame having spaced side members, a pair of jaws mountedk 'jo on said frame and disposed in opposition abovefthe side members at one end of the v frame, springv means for urging said jaws together, a bar tiltably mounted between said side members, said bar terminating in an abutment member, and said bar being movable to bring the abutment member between said aws. i

7A. vA valve tool comprisingL a frame having spaced side members, a lever pivotally mounted on each of said side members and disposed' parallel thereto when at rest, Veach of said levers terminating in al jaw disposed above one end of the side member on which the lever is mounted, said jaws together comprising a pair, spring means for holding the levers in horizontal position, andan abutment member disposed betweenl said side members and movableto a position between the jaws.

8. A valve tool comprising a handle member, a pairof jaws/mounted on the handle thereof, spring means vfor urging said aws together, a bar tiltably mounted on the handle member,'said bar terminating in an abutment member and said bar being movable to bring the abutment member between said jaws.

9. A valvespring split lock replacer oom- Y j JOSEPH sUNNEN. ,j 

